7-8 Teachers cutting loose

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Last of the week of the grading period

7th Grade

You need to be working on your Travel Brochures. They are due on Wednesday. I have given you the expectations/rubric. It is a great opportunity to raise a low grade, or a bad opportunity to hurt a borderline grade. Which it is, is up to you.

8th

We have the Constitution Test on Wednesday. You need to know the Preamble, the 7 Articles, and the 27 Amendments. The Articles and Amendments need to be learned in order. You can utilize Youtube for the School House Rock Preamble song. Also if I were you I would break the Amendments up into groups of 5 and learn them that way. It is easier to break them up in smaller chunks and learn them that way.

Good Luck
Mr. Clark

All classes

7Th and 8Th grade, we will play review golf tomorrow to make sure we are ready for the test we will now take on Tuesday. 7Th grade, I was unable to host an online study session tonight so I will back up the test till Tuesday.

Sorry I was not able to post anything about the session until now, but I just walked in the door a few minutes ago.

Hope your studying is going well and we will look at the material tomorrow and answer any last minute questions on the study guide or just from the chapter.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

All sections of the notes should be done by the end of the day. Tomorrow I will have a study guide for you covering Chapter 7. We will play review golf on Monday and test on Tuesday. Constitution Test is on Wednesday the 16Th. Do not put this off. You have know about it for a week now. You should be well on your way to having that committed to memory.

Section 4 notes and section assessment due tomorrow.

Mr. Clark

7th grade notes

Here is the last section of notes for this chapter

Kenya
Chapter 16
Section 3
Peoples of Kenya
• Where do Kenyans live?
– Highlands surrounding Mt. Kenya
– Coastal region
• Shared Culture
– More than 40 ethnic groups
– Religion and language tie most of these groups together
– Very family oriented (family values)
• Kenya’s Ethnic Groups
– Kikuyu- Kenya’s largest ethnic group
• Live in shambas (small family owned farm)
• Live in round homes
• Grow food and cash crops like coffee
– Maasi- another farming ethnic group
• Seminomatic- some time wander as nomadic and some time settled as farmers
Life in Rural Kenya
• Women mostly grow food
• Men grow cash crops or go to cities to find work
• Kenya gained independence from Britain in 1963
• First president was Jomo Kenyatta
– Social program named Harambee (pull together)
– Used harambee for education, politics, and farming
• Women’s Self-Help Groups
– Women used the idea of harambee to form groups to solve community problems
– Pool money and resources to better life for the communities women
Life in Urban Kenya
• Capital- Nairobi
• One of the largest cities in East Africa
• Industry and Manufacturing
• Working in the City
– Population- 1 million in 1985, 2 million in 2000
– Men go to cities as women stay in rural area
– Most walk to city for work, sometimes up to 10 miles each way
• City Life
– Men in the city practice harambee as well
• Pool money to help their ethnic group
• Return to village on weekends

8th Grade

You should be into Section 3 of Chapter 7 today. Do not forget about the Constitution Test or the Chapter 7 test on the horizon. These will both be great opportunities for grade improvements. the quarter is running out and opportunities to improve your grade are dwindling. Use the grades you have left to bump your grade up and not down.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade Notes

Here are Chapter 16 Section 2 notes

Tanzania
Chapter 16
Section2
Early Reforms After Independence
• Tanzania was created when Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged in 1964
• Challenges for the New Nation
– Independent yes, but very poor and uneducated
– 12 medical doctors for 9 million people
– 120 different ethnic groups
• A National Language
– Since Swahili was most common language spoken in Tanzania, it’s president made it the official language.
– Lingua Franca- Language used for communication among people who speak different first languages.
• One Party System
– Since there were so many ethnic groups in Tanzania, they allowed only one political party, to avoid factions and hatred
– Could be multiple candidates, but only from one party
• Economic Changes
• Uhuru na kazi- freedom to work
• only hard work will end poverty
• Ujamaa-togetherness or being a family
• Work together
• Share resources
• Cooperation would boost production
• Progress and Continued Reform
– By 1985
+ national language
+ very little ethnic conflict
+ Education and literacy rates greatly improved
- Still very poor
- Ujamaa had failed
- Crop production decreased throughout the nation
- A New Era in Economics
- Elimination of the Ujamaa program
- Encouragement of new farming methods
- New seed technology
- Cash crops
- Asked for foreign aid (money)
- Privatization-sale of government owned industry to private companies
- Telephone company
- Air lines
- Result- economy is improving quickly
- Attempts at Political Reform
- Multiparty System- 2 or more political parties
- began this system in 1992
- No change in power led people to believe that the political system was still flawed

7th Grade Notes

Here are 16.1 notes

Ethiopia
Chapter 16
Section 1
Major Religions of Ethiopia
• Christianity and Islam
• Establishment of Christianity in Ethiopia
– Missionaries from Alexandria brought Christianity to Ethiopia
Ethiopian Christians were cut off from other Christians making it easy for Islam to move in
• Spread of Islam into Ethiopia
– Muslim Arabs, over time, controlled trade routes into Ethiopia.
– Eventually Islam over took Christianity
– A Unique form of Christianity
– cut off from other Christians, and surrounded by Muslims, Ethiopian Christians formed Geez
– Geez- a new form of Christianity with its own language and traditions
– Lalibela- capitol of Christian Ethiopia for 300 years
– Churches were below ground and carved out of solid rock
– Christian-Muslim Interaction
– Historically, they have gotten along well
– Skirmishes have occurred once in a while
– 35% Christian
– 45% Muslim
• Contrasts in Daily Life
– Must Ethiopians live in rural areas
– 10% live in cities
• Rural Ethiopia
– Little electricity and running water
– Few cars
– 1st level economic activities
• Farming
• Herding and Fishing
• Woodworking and Beekeeping
• Urban Ethiopia
– most have access to modern conveniences
– Universities and museums & modern hospitals
– Cars
– Trading
– 2nd level economic activities
• Manufacturing & production

8th Grade

Chapter 7 is a self-guided chapter. You will need to read and outline each section. You will also need to complete the Section assessments at the end of each section. This chapter has the Constitution in it. The Wednesday before Christmas Break, we will test over the Preamble and the 27 Amendments and the 7 Articles. You need to start learning those today. Do not put this off.

Chapter 7 Section one notes are to be in your note book tomorrow. You will turn in your section assessment tomorrow as well.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

Test scores were pretty good. Much improved over the Chapter 5 test.

No homework or blog work over the break. Get rested and relax and get ready for the final 3 weeks of the quarter on the other side of Thanksgiving Break.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

The 7TH grade students should be finishing up the packet on 15.3 at home this weekend. We have been working in class on outlining and answering the Section Assessments. Monday we will spend some time finishing up the work from this week and then on Tuesday we will play review golf and then Wednesday will be the test over 13.2, and Chapter 15. This will work out nicely since in the students will not have anything to worry about or work on over the extended break.

Short week next week, but we have a lot to accomplish. Do not start you Thanksgiving Break early and make a bad decision about studying for your test.

Have a great weekend
Mr. Clark

8TH grade notes for 6-4

Fighting for Liberty on Many Fronts
Chapter 6
Section 4
Women Take Part in the War
• Women began taking on extra work
– Harvesting and Planting
– Running of the family business
– Making cloth for blankets and uniforms
– Helping the Army
– In Battle
• Cared for wounded
• Washed clothes
• Cooked
– Betsy Ross
• Credited for making the first American flag
– Mary Ludwig Hayes
• Brought soldiers water
• Nicknamed Molly Pitcher
• Took her husbands place loading and firing a cannon when he was killed
– New Attitudes
• More responsibilities, wanted more rights
• Increase confidence, began to speak out
Men of Continental Congress disagreed
– They felt it women’s their duty, but didn’t warrant more rights
– Women will use the ideals and principals of the Revolution to further their cause
– African Americans face Hard Choices
1776- 500,000 African Americans in colonies
Not initially allowed in the Continental Army
Britain offered them freedom if they would fight on their side
Continental Army forced to allow them to join
• Joining the Fight
– Army- 5,000 African Americans- all but South Carolina
– Navy- 2,000 African American
– 9 at Lexington and Concord
– Prince Estabrook wounded there
– Peter Salem and Salem Poor fought at Bunker Hill
– Formed special regiments
– Drummers, fifers, spies, and guides
– Faced a no win situation
– Fight on the side of colonists- face the wrath of the British Army
– Fight on the side of the British and face the wrath of the Patriots
• Hoping for Freedom
– Slaves along the coastal regions helped the British in hopes they would take them with them and set them free
– Black Patriots hoped fighting for the cause would earn them freedom
– Colonial leaders torn over the idea of slavery
– Most did not like it
– Washington & Jefferson hypocrites
– This was not the time to solve this issue. We have bigger things to deal with
– Quakers very outspoken about the issue- it was wrong
– “All men are created equal” Natural Rights
– Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania make slavery illegal
• War on the Western Front
– Theater of battle changes and shifts away from the east
– British convince Indians to fight with them
– “No colonists, no one taking your land”
– Natives join in fighting in the north, south and midwest
– Colonists win every battle against Indians
– George Rogers Clark
• led Virginia frontier fighters in at Vincennes
• Surprise attack, masked their numbers
– British surrender without a shot
– Spanish Aid
– Spain/New Spain originally neutral
– Bernardo de Galvez
• Governor of Louisiana
• Seized British forts along Mississippi River
• Drove British out of Florida
• Fighting at Sea
– British held a solid advantage at sea
– Blockades were effective
– Occasionally a British ship would be seized
– John Paul Jones
• Led the greatest American sea victory of the war
• Jones captures the Serapis in the North Sea
• Interesting battles but the war will be won on land and in the South

7th Grade

This week and next we are working on a self-guided section of the book. The students have their work outlined in their agendas to help keep them focused and on track to get everything completed by the deadline of Monday. they have all the material needed, and know the expectation. this is the 2ND time we have done this so it is not completely unfamiliar to them. The test will be on Wednesday, November 25Th. This is the day before Thanksgiving. I have instructed the students to let me know ahead of time if any of them are not going to be here so they can take their test on Tuesday. I think it would be a bad idea to wait the 5 day until after Thanksgiving Break to take it. As of today, the students should have 13.2 and 15.1 outlined and the section assessments for those section completed as well. There is a corresponding handout packet that they should have those 2 sections completed for as well.

So far the students are doing a really great job with it and I am optomistic as to the results at the end.

Thanks
Mr. Clark

8th Grade

After today's class, we are finished with 6.2, 6.2 and 6.3 as far as in class discussions go. Today they were given p.176 3-5 and p.185 1, 3-5 for an assignment. I also gave them their study guide and told them to get started on that. The test is about a week away, but this is a big section and I want them to start reviewing and committing the information to memory now.

Tomorrow I will place 6-3 notes on the Blog and we will discuss 6.4. Parents and students, plan on seeing an increase in home work and in class assignments. I am making a slight change in the class format.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Today we tested over 13.1, 14.1, and 14.2. I will have results tomorrow.

We will be starting a self guided section for the next chapter. 13.2, 15.1, 15.2, and 15.3 will be self guided. Students will read the sections, take notes, do the section assessments, and corresponding worksheets. This is not a new concept to the students we did this on an earlier chapter in the first quarter. We will be doing this once per quarter to help them learn the skills of independent work.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade Online Study Session

Remember the rules......
1 question discussed at a time
EVERYONE LEAVES AT 8:00 no exception
Only on topic chat

Here is the Link

http://www.chatzy.com/

Mr. CLark

8TH Grade Notes Chapter 6 Section 2

The Colonies Declare Independence
Chapter 6
Section 2
Common Sense
• By 1776 many colonies agreed Parliament did not have the right to make laws for the 13 colonies
• Though most still felt they owed allegiance to the King
• Thomas Paine writes a pamphlet called Common Sense.
• More than 500,000 copies sold
• Paine’s goal
• Change colonists attitude towards the King
• The only reason Britain helped the colonists was for its own profit
• Remaining under British rule ultimately hurt the colonists
Time to part with Britain
• Congress Votes for Independence
– Congressional members read Common Sense and cautiously agreed
• Making the Break
– What they were contemplating could get them hanged as a traitor- a person that betrays their country
– Appointed a committee to draw up a document outlining complaints and declaring their independence
– Thomas Jefferson is named author of it
• Signing the Document
– Late June 1776 first draft is completed
– July 2nd Congress voted that the 13 colonies were “free and independent states”
– Finalized it on July 4th and printed the Declaration of Independence
– John Hancock, Continental Congress president signed first large and boldly
Copies distributed and colonies celebrated
• Declaration of Independence
• 4 parts to the document
– 1) Preamble- introduction
– three main parts
• 2) Natural Rights- rights all people have at birth
– governments role is to protect these rights
– Government can only exist if they have the “consent of the governed”
– If government fails, the people have the right to overthrow the government
3) British wrongs
• Detailed list of wrongdoings of Parliament and the King
• Among the listed were:
• Limits on trade
• Troop build up
• Disbanding of colonial assembly
• Taxation
– Used to justify the rebellion
– Pointed out attempts to right the wrongs
– Boiled down to tyranny by the King
4) Independence
– Announced their intention to be independent of Britain
– All political ties would be cut
– Free and independent nation
– Full power to “levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do”
• Closing Statement
– “And, for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
– P.176 3-5


Don't forget to read Section 3 Chapter 6

8TH Grade

A message from Mr. McFadden

" 8th grade deposits need to be turned in to me by this coming Friday."

This money has to be turned in to reserve your place on the trip. The amount is 75$ -Email Mr. McFadden with quesions.

7th grade

We will have an online study session from 6-8 Sunday night. Please remember when 8 o'clock rolls around it is time to leave! We will not be staying in the chat room to visit with friends, that is not what it is for. Same format as before. If you have a question wait your turn and I will get to you. You may not chat off topic, and you may not type your question when it is not your turn. I enjoy these study sessions and I think you all get positive stuff from them, but if we don't follow the rules I will have to shut them down. :(

I will post the room Sunday night about 5:30 on here so you all can join.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

Here are 6-1 Notes

Fighting Begins in the North
Chapter 6
Section 1
Peace or War?
 May 10th 1775 Second Continental Congress most wanted to avoid a break with Britain
 Fighting continued as meeting happened
 A Peace Petition
 Olive Branch Petition- declared their loyalty to King George III. Asked for a repeal of Intolerable Acts
 King was sure they wanted an independent empire
 Instead of accepting petition, he sent 20,000 troops
 Colonial leaders were sure war could not be avoided
 Rebels take Ticonderoga
 Ethan Allen led a group called the Green Mountain Boys in an attack on Fort Ticonderoga. Southern tip of Lake Champlain
 group seized all weapons and ammunition
 Gained control of a key route into Canada
 Setting up an Army
 Second Continental Congress agreed to and began organizing the Continental Army.
 George Washington would led this army
 Advantages of the Opposing Sides
 Patriots- favored war with Britain
 - Poorly organized
 - Few cannons
 - Little gunpowder
 - Unwillingness to enlist for a long time
 + most had their own rifle
 + good shot
 + “brilliant” commander
 + determined
 The British
 + Highly trained
 + best navy in the world
 + colonial support
 - 3000 miles away
 - news and supplies slow to replenish
- unknown territory
 Loyalists
 Loyalists- Colonists that remained loyal to Britain
 wealthy merchants and former officials
 Some farmers and artisans
 More loyalists in Middle and South than in New England
 Harassed by Patriots
 Many fled to England or Canada
 Lost homes, farms, and stores
 The Fight for Boston
 First year of fighting took place in and around Boston
 Battle of Bunker Hill
 June 16, 1775 Colonel Prescott leads 1200 minutemen up Bunker Hill
 Looked across and thought Breed’s Hill would be a better spot to fire on British. Moved
 General Howe and 2400 British troops advance on Prescott. Patriots held them off
Same for 2nd attack
 3rd attack, British repelled the Patriots
 Took both Bunker and Breed’s Hill
 1,000 redcoats and 400 Patriots dead
 Battle of Bunker Hill would be the first major battle of the Revolutionary War
 British Leave Boston
 16,000 troops waiting in Boston when Washington arrived
 Mistrust ran wild among the colonial troops
 No colonial troops wanted troops from another colony
 January 1776 Green Mountain Boys arrive with weapons from Ticonderoga.
 Placed cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking the harbor
 Howe knew Boston was lost
 Headed for Halifax, Canada with about 1000 Loyalists
 King George ordered a blockade of all colonial ports
 German mercenaries (hired troops) arrive to fight along side British

Study Session address

http://www.chatzy.com/370800813633

8th Grade

You are Excused from Notes tonight......something has come up and I am not going to get them posted.

Have a good night

Mr. Clark

STUDY SESSION!!!!!!!!!

I am at school and I cannot log into Chatzy here. I am running home and will be on by 6:15 and will give you the room info then.....Sorry

7th Grade

Remember the test is on Friday. Have your study guide completed when you come to class on Friday. Do not try and cram. Study, look over your notes study your study guide, quiz each other. Online study session on Chatzy.com from 6-8 tomorrow night. Let make this one better than the last. We have not done one in a test or two because of how bad the last on was. Lets correct the mistakes and have a great session and learn a lot and get every ones questions answered.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

Are we really going to go to war with Great Britain? Our mother country? Loyalists say no way but Patriots say yes! What do you think? Should we have gone to war with Great Britain? Answer the poll question and we will talk about the results in class on Friday.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade Notes

Here are the notes from 12-3

European Conquest of Africa
Chapter 12
Section 3
Europeans on the Coast
• Pre 1500’s Europe and Africa were trade equals
• 1500’s- saw Europe enslavement and forced migration of Africans
• 1800’s end of slavery and Europeans turned their attention to Africa’s natural resources
• 1900’s Europeans carve up and divide Africa amongst themselves
• Portuguese Exploration
• Portuguese were looking to by pass Northern African traders and deal directly with West Africa
• Gold and Ivory
• Sailing improvements- triangle shaped sail and the astrolabe
• A Change in Trade Relations
• Europe and Africa were originally trade equals
• Trading goods for goods
• 1498 Portuguese ships rounded southern tip of Africa and up the east coast
• They were amazed by east Africa’s wealth
• More Portuguese ships quickly arrive
• Seized control of east Africa’s wealth and would control it well into the 1600’s
• European Trade Spreads
• Dutch, French and English soon follow
• Set up trading posts all along Africa’s coasts
• Dutch settle the Cape of Good Hope
• Europeans spread all over Africa sometimes by force if needed
• Relationship between Africans and Europeans sours
Atlantic Slave Trade
• Slavery was common in Africa before 1500
• Was a temporary situation
• Property, bought and sold like goods
• Europeans living in Africa bought slaves and sent them back to Europe and to America
• Europeans rarely freed their slaves
• The Demand for Slaves
• Americans originally used Native Americans as slaves but they did not hold up well.
• African slaves were healthier and stronger
• Better at farming, miners, and metal workers
• Easier to adapt to the climate
• Unfamiliar with the territory so less likely to run away
• Slave Trade Begins
• Some African nations refused to take part
• Others sold conquered Africans into slavery
• 1780- 80,000 slaves were being shipped across the Atlantic per year
Horrors of Slavery
• Branding
• Filthy conditions on ships
• Over crowding
• Little food or water
• 20 percent death rate on the ride over
• Beatings
Europeans Colonize Africa
• African’s resisted European colonization, but old guns and Europe’s modern weapons were a problem for Africa
• Scramble for Africa
– European countries competed, but did not want it to lead to a European war
– 1848- Berlin Conference- divided Africa
– 1900 majority of Africa is colonized
– 1914 only Ethiopia and Liberia are independent
• Effect of European Control
– European countries used a variety of governing techniques to control African
– From direct control secondary governments, the ultimate result was Africans were powerless
– Encouraged rivalries among ethnic groups
– Europeans took the best land for farming
– New political boundaries formed without consideration to tribal, ethnic groups
– As long as Europe controlled Africa the conflicts were limited…when the left, chaos

8th Grade

8Th Grade Test

Period 3
A-0 B-1 C-3 D-1 F-12
High- 43 Low- 15 Average- 30

Period 4
A-1 B-4 C-4 D-1 F-10
High- 47 Low- 22 Average- 33

As you can see the 8Th grade class as a whole decided to take Chapter 5 off. This on top of the fact that I postponed the test for 4 days. Unacceptable. I am cautiously hopeful that they will learn from this and rebound on the next test.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Here are 12-2 Notes

Kingdoms, City-States, and Empires
Chapter 12
Section 2
East African Trading Civilizations
• East Africa Boundaries: Red Sea, Indian Ocean
– Primarily trading centers
– Port cities
– Arab and African traders settled the area
• Aksum- Present day Ethiopia
– Controlled trade in the Red Sea
– By 200’s A.D. controlled all trade from India to the Mediterranean Sea
– Christianity came to Aksum around 300 A.D.
– By 600 A.D. Arabs had seized control of the region and Aksum began to decline
• Cities of Trade
– Sailors used seasonal winds to reach China and India, when winds changed, they sailed back
– Took- skins, Ivory, gold and other metals
– Brought back- cotton, silk, and porcelain
– Islam introduced to region during this time
– New language- Swahili- Bantu/Arab language
– Most widely spoken language in Africa today
• Rise of City-States
– City-State- city that has its own traditions, governments, and laws. Both a city and an independent state
• Important city-states
– Malindi, Mombasa, Kilwa, and Great Zimbabwe
– Kilwa
– 3 and 4 story stone and coral dwellings
– Traders paid high taxes to trade there
– Conquered by Portugal in the 1500’s
• Great Zimbabwe
– Inland and east along the Limpopo River
– Connected to the east by a system of trade networks all the way to the Indian Ocean
– Reached it’s peak of power in about 1300 A.D.
– 1000’s of people called this walled city home
North African Trading Powers
– Boundaries- Sahara and Mediterranean Sea
– Phoenicians were the first to explore this region
• Rise and Fall of Carthage
– Phoenician trading center in present day Tunisia
– Wealthiest city in the world at the time
– Controlled trade in the Med. Sea from 500-200 B.C.
– Taken over by Roman Empire in 146 B.C.
– City was destroyed
• Roman and Islamic Influences
– Cities grew all along North Africa under Roman rule
– Christianity spread as well
– 1000’s of miles of roads to connect its empire
– Roman Empire falls in 476 A.D. and competing forces fought over the land until Arabs gained control in 600’s A.D.
– Islam spread and replaced Christianity

West African Kingdoms
• Based on the trade of salt and gold
• No refrigeration at the time so salt was very important
• A lot of trading between north and west Africa
• Growth of important cities like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai and Forest Kingdoms like Benin
• Ghana
• Between the Senegal and Nile Rivers
• Controlled trade in western Africa
• Called the land of gold
• High taxes
• Mali
• Upper Niger River valley
• Powerful in mid 1200’s
• Kings controlled the flow of salt and gold to the north
• Kings were called Mansa-emperor
– Most important Mali king was Mansa Musa
– 20 year reign brought peace to the region
• Mansa Musa and the Spread of Islam
– Was Muslim himself
– Made regular pilgrimages to Mecca
– Brought 60,000 people with him
– Each of his 80 camels carried 300 lbs of gold
– Gave it away as a gift
– Europeans heard about his wealth and began buying Mali gold
• Songhai
– Becomes powerful after Mansa Musa’s death
– Tombouctou was Songhai’s major trading center
– Important caravan stopping location along the Nile
– Greatest Muslim learning center
– Songhai declined after northern invaders attacked in 1591
• Forest Kingdoms
• Benin
– late 1200’s
– Traded ivory, palm oil and pepper
– Worked with bronze, brass, and wood
– Created some of the finest sculpture of the time
– Trade partners- Africa and Europe
– European began to trade guns for slaves
– Many African Americans are descendants of these forest kingdoms

7th Grade

Notes 12-1

African Beginnings
Chapter 12
Section1

Changing Survival Skills
Hunter-Gatherers
Nomadic – moved with herds
Hunted animals for meat
Collected fruits, nuts, and roots
Made tools from stone
This age became known as the Stone Age

Farming and Herding
Earliest farming probably in Northern Africa- present day Sahara Desert
In the beginning harvested wild grains
Then collected seeds
Then kept seeds from stronger plants and threw out seeds from weaker plants
This is called domestication-adapting plants or animals for human use.

Early Settlements
Domestication of plants and animals meant people could stop being nomadic
Most early settlements were by water sources
Mainly rivers
Transportation
Food
Fertile soil
Surpluses allowed for specialization outside of farming

Egypt- 5000 B.C
Nile River Valley
Good soil for farming- fresh silt from flooding
Transportation
Food Source
Ruled by kings (Pharaohs) and queens that were treated and worshiped like Gods
Built temples (pyramids) to honor them
Hieroglyphs- system of writing using symbols
Specialization allowed them to develop skills like paper-making, architecture, astronomy, and medicine

Nubia- 6000 B.C.
South of Egypt along the Nile
Napata- greatest Nubian Civilization
724 B.C. Nubians of Napata conquered Egypt
Meroe- Weaker Nubian civilization, conquered by Ethiopians from Aksum around 350 A.D.

The Bantu Migration
4000 years ago in Africa, one of the largest migrations takes place
Bantu speaking peoples began to move
Southern migration fro west-central Africa into south-east and south-west Africa
Why Migrate?
No one knows for sure
May have been the new ability to farm the rainforests
overpopulation
Over 100’s of years Bantu speaking people spread all across Central and Southern Africa
Bantus Spread Their Language
People were living in regions where Bantus migrated to but Bantu language and culture came to dominate all regions they inhabited
Language and Ethnic Groups
Ethnic Groups- group that shares language, religion, family ties, and customs
Shared history
Most of today’s Africans in Southern and Central Africa speak Bantu (200 million)

8th grade

Because of an elevated number of absences, we have had to push the test back until Friday. The students were very upset and sad at this unfortunate news as I am sure you guessed. Well the presentations are really good so far and I have been very pleased.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

TEST THURSDAY!!!!!!!
Make sure you are studying. The vast amount of you did not have your notes done in class yesterday. Not good at all. Get this study guide done and done well.

1) What Europeans countries were in a struggle for colonies?
2) Where were the French territories in N. America?
3) Where were the Spanish territories in N. America?
4) Where were the English territories in N. America?
5) What natural barrier separated the French and British colonies?
6) What Indian tribes fought on the side of the French?
7) What Indian tribes fought on the side of the British?
8) What general’s men fired the first shot in the French and Indian War?
9) Explain the situation at Fort Duquesne with General Washington.
10) Explain the Albany Congress and Albany Plan of the Union
11) Who takes over control of Colonial forces after Braddock was shot and killed?
12) Explain the Battle of Quebec
13) Explain the terms of the Treaty of Paris
14) How did the newly arrived British settlers treat the Indians in the Ohio Valley?
15) Explain the Proclamation Line of 1763?
16) Explain the Sugar Act
17) Explain the Stamp Act and the colonist response to it
18) Explain the Townshend Act
19) Who were the Sons of Liberty
20) Explain the Quartering Act
21) Summarize the Boston Massacre
22) What was Liberty Tea?
23) Summarize the Boston Tea Party
24) Explain the Intolerable Acts
25) Summarize Lexington and Concord from beginning to end (Be thorough with your answer!)

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Presentations are going really well. Yesterday we got through about 10-12 of them and they rocked. I am out today tending to my sick daughter, but will return tomorrow to continue with presentations. Make any last minute corrections and be ready to present tomorrow.

Mr. Clark

7th grade

7Th grade tested over chapter 11 today. Since we could not have our regularly scheduled online study session and not a lot of students able to attend the 7am study session on top of the considerable absences we have as of late, I decided that at the end of the test the students, if they had them, could use use their notes. There were a significant number of students that did not have the notes in their notebook to be able to use as a resource. That is unfortunate, but teaches a valuable lesson. Do the work that you are assigned. They have had 7 days to get the notes into their notebook and I even reminded them on a daily basis last week and Monday. The test scores are pretty good, however, I will tell you that using the notes is something that will rarely if ever happen again so please do not mistake my generosity for the norm.


The projects are going to be finished up on Friday and we will be presenting on Monday and Tuesday. I have been very proud of the way the 7Th graders have handled themselves in the lab. They have been focused, hard-working and taking it very serious and for that I thank each and everyone of them.

8th grade

Chapter 5 Section 3

From Protest to Revolution
Chapter 5
Section 3
A Dispute Over Tea
• Tea was very popular
• “would rather go without dinner than without a dish of tea”
• Parliament Passes the Tea Act
– British East India Company supplied most of the tea to the colonies
– Tax tea…sat on boats unsold
– British merchants were allowed to sell tea
– Undercut the colonial merchants
– Colonists boycotted Tea Act buy continuing to buy colonial tea at a higher price
• A New Boycott
– Started drinking coffee and “Liberty Tea”
– Refused to allow British merchants to unload their cargo of tea
• Boston Tea Party
– November 1773 3 British ships reach Boston harbor
– Dec. 16th Sam Adams & Sons of Liberty demand ships leave the harbor
– They refuse
– Sons of Liberty dress like Indians and dump 342 chest of tea into Boston Harbor
• Parliament Strikes Back
– Colonists had mixed reactions to tea party
– Britain passes Intolerable Acts
• British ships blockade Boston Harbor until tea is paid for
• Town meetings forbidden
• British officials must be tried in Britain
• New Quartering Act
• Quebec Act
– Set up separate government for Canada
– Complete religious freedom for French Catholics
– Gave land in Ohio Valley to French Canadians
• Other Colonies Support Boston
– Smuggled food into Boston
– All Merchants closed in a show of unity
– First Continental Congress-
• Boycott of all British goods until Intolerable Acts were repealed
• Agreed to meet again on May 1775
• Encouraged each colony to setup a militia
• Militia- citizens that served as soldiers during an emergency
• Lexington and Concord
– Minutemen- men trained and ready to fight at a minutes notice
– British soldiers marched on Concord to seize a cache of arms stored there.
– Led by General Thomas Gage
– Supposed to be a surprise
– April 18th 700 British troops leave Boston
– Sons of Liberty watching
– 2 lamps hung in Old North Church-By sea
– Militia waited on banks of Charles River
– Day break on April 19th, near Lexington British commanders ordered militia to go home
– Militia disbanded and headed home
– Shot rang out from somewhere
– Fighting breaks out
– 8 militiamen killed
– British move on Concord
– British found nothing at Concord
– Supplies had been moved
– On the march back to Boston, militia, now larger waited for British
– 300 militiamen
– More fighting
– 73 British killed and 200 wounded
– Became know as the Battle of Lexington and Concord
– All hope of a peaceful solution was gone
– Only option…..WAR!

8th Grade

We continued working in the computer lab today. A lot of good work got done today. We will be in there again for the final day on Friday. Tomorrow we will be talking about the rest of Chapter 5. I will figure out how to get the notes to you since I feel that they are too long to post on the blog. Fear not, you will get them.

I was only able secure the computer lab for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. If that is not enough time to complete the assignment, you will need to complete it on your own time over the weekend. I am sorry to do that, but that is the way it has to be. We will begin presentations on Monday and into Tuesday.

You have done a great job in the computer lab the last two days, please let that behavior carry into Friday.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Tomorrow is Chapter 11 Test. You have know about it since Friday of last week. Tonight should be brushing up on information you are unclear on. I will have to apologise for not being able to host an online study session. Wednesday nights I have obligations I cannot change. I am confident you will be ready. The true or false/ multiple choice portion focuses on vocabulary and simple ideas.(pay attention to the resource map in your textbook. The short answer section deals with concepts and complex ideas. I fear that some of you have not studied for this until today. That will be a mistake more the majority that this is true for. You cannot be successful that way.

We will be in the computer lab on Friday to finish up our Power Points. The presentations will begin on Monday and carry into Tuesday.

I will be here at 7 in the morning tomorrow morning and anyone that wants to meet and talk about the test can come down to our room.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

I fell asleep last night and did not get the summary notes for chapter 5 posted. Here they are.

Road to Revolution
Summary

1) French and Indian War
2) Indian Wars
3) Proclamation Line of 1763
4) Sugar Act
5) Stamp Act
6) Refusal of Colonial Representation in Parliament
7) Townshend Acts
8) Quartering Act (s)
9) Boston Massacre
10) Tea Act
11) Intolerable Acts
12) Quartering Act
13) Lexington & Concord


Computer research started today. Power Point creation is Wednesday and Friday and Presentations begin Monday. I am looking forward to seeing the completed assignments. They should be better than last years.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Computer work started today. Both classes handled themselves very well in the lab. A lot of good research happened. We will begin working on the Power Points tomorrow and finish up on Friday. Presentation will begin on Monday. This is a large part of your grade this quarter, take it serious.

Thursday there will be a test over Chapter 11. Be reviewing your notes and reading the sections.

Parents....if you have Power Point 2003 or higher, your student can work on their projects at home. Your student should be studying for their test on Thusday over Chapter 11.

Mr. Clark

7th and 8th Grade

We selected topics for our projects today. I felt that if the students had a say in their topic they would be more inclined to do a better job. The requirement is going to be a 8 slide minimum Power Point. During the 4 quarter we will write a paper about our topic in conjunction with Mrs. Venekamp's class and their research projects. We did these projects last year and they turned out pretty good. I have higher hopes this year since we know what to do this time.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade Notes

Here is 11-3. You have until Monday to have all 3 sections in your notebook.

Resources and Land Use
Chapter 11
Section 3
Agricultural Resources
• Most Africans are Farmers
• Subsistence Farmers- growing just enough to support one’s own family
– They grow wheat and barley in dryer savannah regions
– They grow fruits and vegetables in regions with more rainfall
– Ex. corn, rice, fish, goats, and poultry
• Crops for Sale
– Cash Crop- crops raised for resale
– Ex. Coffee beans, tea
– Cash crops farming is on the rise
– Is leading to food shortages when harvests are light
– Also bad when global prices drop. Families struggle for food and money
• Harvesting Trees
– Hardwoods grow in all regions of Africa
– 1000’s of acres of trees have been cut down
– Tree farmers are now starting to replace what they cut down to counter deforestation
– Treating trees like the renewable resource that they are
Natural Resources
• Economy-system for producing, distributing, consuming and owning goods and services
• Mining, many areas are rich in mineral resources
– Ex. Gold, diamonds, petroleum, iron, and coal
– Be familiar with the map on 377. Have an idea of what is found where
Improving Economic Health
• Specialized Economy-when a nation is dependent on one type of industry
• Strengthening Economies
– crops must be successfully grown and sold at a high price for farmers to be successful
– Diversify- add variety
– In order for most African countries to be successful, they must diversify their economies
– More flexible type of economy
– More diversified an economy, the stronger the economy, not as fluctuating
• Where Does the Money Go?
– Mining requires many workers and expensive equipment
– Foreign companies take most of Africa’s mineral resources and take profits out of Africa
– This does nothing for Africa’s economy
– Africa wants to grow it’s manufacturing and refining industries to keep those profits

8th grade

Parents...I provided the students with a printed out copy of the notes in class today. I felt that the notes were too long to try and post on the blog. Sorry for not posting them last night. With conferences after school last night time got away from me and I did not get it done......sorry for any problems that caused.

We are getting into the French and Indian War and causes and lead up into the American Revolution. The student interest seems to be growing as their confidence in the subject matter grows, I have some really fun stuff planned and the students will determine how much of it we are able to actually do.

Mr. Clark

All students and parents

Last night we felt was a great success. Students took the conferences very serious and did an outstanding job. All should be proud. I do not think it could have gone better. Parents seemed pleased as we circulated and chatted, students were explaining and taking responsibility for their grades, and as for the teachers, to see this experiment come to fruition and be that smooth on the first attempt is a testament to the entire community here at ICS.

We have one more night of conferences on Thursday. The Tuesday group set the bar pretty high, but I know you can do just as well.

Thanks for making it such a success.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade Notes

Here are notes for 11-2. They need to be in your notebook. I will be checking.

Climate and Vegetation
Chapter 11
Section 2
What Influences Climate?
• Distance from the Equator
– Runs through the midsection of Africa
– Tropics also run through Africa
– Much of Africa has a tropical climate
– Influences not only climate, but also seasons
• Role of Elevation
– Higher the elevation- colder the temperature
– Irrigate- supply with water from another source
– Drought-long period with little or no rain
– Oasis- a fertile place in the desert with water and vegetation
• Unpredictable Rainfall
– Because of Africa’s size, rainfall varies from region to region
– West Coast and Central Africa get a lot
– North and South get very little
Vegetation Regions of Africa
• Tropical Rain Forests
– Covers close to 20% of Africa
– Lush vegetation and variety of wildlife
– Farming, Fishing, Hunting, Logging
• Tropical Savannas
– 2 seasons- dry and wet
– Tall grasses and scattered trees
– Large pack animals
– Farming(wet season) Trade(dry season)
• Desert Living
– Nomads- people who have no permanent home
– They follow trade routes or migrating animals
– Live up in the mountain regions during rainy season and around oases during dry seasons
– Make a living trading, herding, or caravan leaders
Climate & Health
• Sleeping Sickness
– Tsetse Fly- found in 1/5 of Africa
– A bite can kill a cow
– A bite to a human causes “sleeping sickness”
Malaria
– Spread by mosquitoes
– Moist climates- breed in swamps or standing water

7th Grade

Parents......The students are using you as an excuse to not get the notes off the blog. I know this is not true. I am asking for some assistance. Please check agendas and if they have notes to get help me make sure they are copying the notes. It makes class discussions very difficult when they do not have the notes to refer to.

Students..... you are now a day behind because many of you failed to get the notes. I am running out of patience for excuses. A large number of you that claim to not be able to get the notes are the same students staying until 4 or later in aftercare. School is your job. Your boss at a real job would not accept lame excuses and I will not either. Start taking responsibility for your education. It is disheartening when your teachers and parents care more about your grades than you do. Step up. This is a new quarter and your grade will only be as good as the effort you put into it.

7th Grade

Here are the notes for 11-1.

Africa Land & Water
Chapter 11
Section 1
Regions and Landforms
• Africa has 46 countries
• 5 main regions
– North
– West
– South
– East
– Central
• Each region has several different climates and landforms

• The Regions
– North
• Rocky mountainous, seemingly endless deserts (Sahara, the world’s largest desert)
– West
• Most populated
• Grasslands
• Fertile soil for farming
– East
• Few Plateaus- large, raised areas of mostly flat land
• Many mountains
– Central and Southern
• Flat rolling grassland
• Thick rainforests
• Mountains
• Swamps
• Deserts in the south(Namib and Kalahari)

• Plateau Continent
– Much of Africa is a raised Plateau
– Elevation- height above sea level
• Mountains
– Highest is in East Africa
– Mount Kilimanjaro
• Coastal Plains Edge the Continent
– Dry and sandy
– Marshy and moist
• Great Rift Valley
– Formed millions of years ago as the continents pulled apart
– Rift- deep trench
– most of Africa’s major lakes are in this area

• Africa’s Rivers
– 4 large rivers
• Nile
• Congo
• Zambezi
• Niger
– Nile River
• Longest river in the world
• Fed by the White and Blue Nile
• Tributaries- smaller rivers that feed into a larger river
• Farming along the Nile
– land has been farmed for 1000’s of years
– Over flows it’s banks and deposits fresh silt every year
– Fertile- rich in the substances that plants need to grow
– Aswan High Dam prevents this area from getting fresh silt now….land will become in fertile in time
– Used to produce electricity
– Created Lake Nasser- largest man made lake in the world
– Congo River
• Flows through rain forests of Central Africa
• 2nd largest river in Africa
• 100’s of tributaries
• Fishing and farming in this region
– Niger River
• 3rd longest river in Africa
• Flows north then cuts south
• Fishing and farming
– Zambezi River
• 4th largest river in Africa
• Southern Africa
• Forms the border of 6 countries
• Boats can only travel 460 miles of the 2,200 miles of river
• Used for electricity
• Victoria Falls mist can be seen up to 40 miles away

Fall Break is coming to an end

Well it is Friday morning and Fall Break is coming to an end. I fly back to Indy Saturday afternoon. Everything went smoothly here in Phoenix. I was overwhelmed at the amount of "stuff" my grandmother had pack ratted away over the years. Amazing. I am anxious to get back to school and get started on Africa, and move closer to the American Revolution. The classes start getting interesting from here on out.

Hope you all had a great break and I am looking forward to you all returning rested and ready to learn. 11 weeks until Christmas Break.

My homeroom, congratulations, I am so proud of you guys. Only one F in the class. You all have come a long way from the beginning of the year last year. We have been through a lot and to see you all passing is incredible. Way to go and keep it up! I knew you had it in you.

See you Monday.

Mr. Clark

The family and I had a GREAT time at Mammoth Cave and Cave City Kentucky. We saw a lot of really cool stuff, all of which I have photos of to show you on Monday. I also went to this way cool antique shop and picked up some awesome things for U.S. History. I bought a tobacco spike from the late 1700's to early 1800's. I also picked up a tobacco cutter from the same time period.....how awesome is that!!!!!. To add to our discussions about cash crops and middle colonial farming, I bought an actual cotton plant with cotton buds on it and picked tobacco and brought back some leaves to show you all.

I leave in the morning for Phoenix to lay my Grandmother to rest. She has been waiting a long time for the day she gets to meet her savior and, if you believe like that, she has now closed her eyes and taken her last breath here on earth and opened her eyes and took her next breath in heaven with the Lord.

Looking forward to getting back to school and sharing all the exciting things I got with all of you.

Hope your break is going well and all are safe and having fun.

Mr. Clark

To All

We made it!!!! Grades are done, whatever Power School says is what it is.

The first quarter is over and we made it.

Enjoy your break.....you earned it.

See you on the other side of Fall Break

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

Grades are for the most part are complete. They will be 100% complete at the end of the school day tomorrow. I have a few miscellaneous grades to enter and the study guides for chapter 4 to enter. Over all I am very pleased with where grades ended up. A few A's and a few F's with the majority of grades falling somewhere in between.

You will need to put forth a greater effort in the quarters to follow. Everything piles onto itself and causes start coming into play. We will be getting into the American Revolution next quarter and I can't wait. We will be looking at it from a perspective most of you have never considered.

Lets enjoy our Fall Break and come back refreshed and ready to improve on this quarter. My goal for you all is No F's. You can do it, but it will take some effort on your part by holding each other accountable and helping each other out. Obviously I am going to help you all as much as possible, but I cannot do the work for you or just "give" you a grade. You earn your grade and it is yours to own.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Grades are about 99% finished. I only have a few pieces of missing or late work to get entered. Grades will be completed by the end of school tomorrow. You will be able to log into Power School and get your grade for History.

Overall the grades are about what I expected few A's, few F's and the bulk in the B and C range with a sprinkling of D's. I know that grades will improve in the next quarter as students get familiar with the expectations of History class.

Student led conferences are coming along very well. I am excited to see them in action.

One more day until a much needed Fall Break begins. You all deserve it. We had a busy and eventful quarter.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

We tested over chapter 4 today.....from the studying I heard going on I am cautiously optimistic about the grades. It seemed like you had a decent grip on the material. You were understanding the main ideas and that is the key.

Next time don't cram as much and break up your studying. You will do better with smaller chunks more often than one long marathon session.......FRANCE...GRRRRR for Brooke

Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Today we worked on an extra credit assignment in class. If you did not have your Africa map done in class you will not receive the full amount of extra credit. You know who you are. All the assignments I am going to take for a grade have been collected. I am hoping that Power School is up SOON!! As soon as it is up and running again I will get grades entered.

Ben left this morning at 10:15 to return home to Australia. He will be traveling until 2:10 tomorrow afternoon. That is an amazing amount of time to be traveling.

He is planning a return trip with his mother and siblings for December.

Starting tomorrow we will be watching the Miracle Worker for LA. My room will be used as a room to finish your LA portfolios. If your portfolio is not completed in LA you will not be watching the Miracle Worker.

See you tomorrow and be sure to vote on the poll question
Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Good discussions in class today. I especially liked the discussion about online textbooks. I can easily see the pros and cons and I got the feeling during our discussion that most of you could see both sides as well.

I have posted a poll for 7Th grade to vote on.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade

Due to the untimely passing of my grandmother last night, I will be unable to host an online study session. That is why I made the study guide so focused on important topics. Study your notes and study guide and you should do fine. The study guide was posted on Saturday morning as promised and judging by the number of people that needed class time to work on it, I am going out on a limb and predicting that most of you did not spend any time this weekend working on that. Shame on you. I would have figured that by now you would have gotten over the idea of cramming for Social Studies. Last test of the quarter and a lot of you I fear are going to struggle.


Mr. Clark

7th Grade

We had a lot of fun talking and learning from Ben on Friday. He and I went out to dinner last night and he also had a blast talking to you all. He asked for our blog site and said when he gets home to Australia, he would post us some pictures of Koalas and Kangaroos and other neat stuff from his homeland. He also wanted you all to know that you were awesome and your questions were really great. "A highlight of his trip to America" were his words describing his day here at ICS.

You all have a fun and safe weekend.....see you on Monday

Mr. Clark

8th Grade study guide for Chapter 4

Define and Explain
Religious Tolerance
Sabbath
Town Meetings
Patroons
Proprietary Colony
Royal Colony
Cash Crops
Indentured Servant
Act of Toleration
Tenant Farmers
Mercantilism
Navigation Acts
Yankee
Triangle Trade Routes
Legislature
Upper House
Lower House
Gentry
Middle Class
Apprentice

Who was, and what did each do....
James Oglethorpe
Thomas Hooker
William Penn
Roger Williams
John Winthrop
Anne Hutchinson


Explain the Great Awaking and its significance

Explain the 3 Triangular Trade Routes

List The pros and cons to the Navigation Acts

Why did the Puritans leave England, and what was there settlement when they arrived in the New Country

List the Colonies and the Countries that controlled them and Year they were founded

Tell me about John Locke, why was he important

Tell me about the Enlightenment

Explain the motivations of each region of colonies...New England, Middle, and Southern

Explain the Economies of each region of colonies

Study smart and be prepared on Monday with questions and difficulties

Have a fun and safe weekend
Mr. Clark

7th Grade Thursday Spetember 24th

My wife's cousin from Australia will be here tomorrow. Please be sure to remember your manner tomorrow. The impression you leave with him will be the impression he takes with him about American middle school aged children. He is very excited to come in and talk to you all about the cultural differences between America and Australia. He has been in the States about 3 weeks now and has seen a lot and I think his observations will be eye-opening to a lot of us. Have questions ready for him to get the conversation started and to keep it going.

See you in the morning

Mr. Clark

8th Grade- Chapter 4 Section 5 Notes

I gave you a copy of the notes in class. Make sure you get those into your notes tonight. You need to start studying for the Chapter 4 test it will be coming up soon. I am thinking about Tuesday of next week.....September 29Th. You should be spending about 20-30 minutes a night in your notes learning the material. Do not try and cram, we know that doesn't work.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/20174782/Section-45-Notes


Mr. Clark

8th grade update

There are a vast number of you not using the blog. I will not except excuses any longer. Computers are available at school from 3:20-4:00, the library has computer axcess All of you have friends or family members with internet. I have created a class account so you do not even need a valid email address. I am running out of patience with you guys. The 7th graders are doing the assignments and getting the notes off the blog why are you fighting this? It is easier, faster, more convienent, and you can do it in your pajama's! Please start using it!

Mr. Clark

7th grade test results Chapter 5

High- 53
Low- 20
Average- 38.7

A- 5
B- 8
C- 17
D- 8
F- 6

Over all a very nice bell curve of results. C- average not bad. I w.ill be passing the tests out today to go over results then I will be collecting them back up and holding on to them for student-led conferences. Nice job 7th grade, you guys as a whole seem to be getting the hang of my tests. The one thing you do need to work on it writing in complete sentences. This is costing you points on tests and homework unnecessarily.

7th Grade

Test today seemed to go pretty well. Grades at a glance look decent. I really think that the online study session was a huge success! A lot of really good things got discussed and it was a productive use of time........for the most part....we know and discussed the problems today and we will move on from that because those problems will no longer be problems...

Have a great weekend and I will have your tests for you on Monday. These will be the test that go into your portfolio for student-led parent teacher conferences at the end of the quarter

Mr. Clark

8th grade notes Chapter 4 section 3

Here is the 4-3 notes

Southern Colonies
Chapter 4
Section3
Mason-Dixon Line
• Used the stars to calculate the path along a constant latitude line.
• Each stone weighed between 300-600 lbs
• Drug them behind a wagon to place them
• Took 5 years
• Established because of a dispute between Calvert and Penn
Maryland and Virginia
• Indentured Servants- people who in exchange for passage to America would agree to work for free for a determined period of time for no pay
• Act of Toleration- granted religious freedom in Maryland.
Virginia
• Bacon’s Rebellion
– William Berkley promised Natives, that settlers would not move off the agreed plot of land the Natives gave them.
– Bacon did not like the agreement, he gathered some settlers and attacked Natives and drove Berkley into exile
– Showed expansion was inevitable
Carolinas & Georgia
• Carolinas
– Carolina was a Proprietary Colony
– King Charles used it as a reward to those that helped him regain his throne after the Glorious Revolution
– John Locke wrote a constitution
– Carolina eventually split into a northern and southern colony
• Georgia
– James Oglethorpe
– Last English colony established
– Set up for the poor and those that owed money (debtors)
France and Spain in N. America
• La Salle, a French explorer, claimed a plot of land where the Mississippi R met the Gulf of Mexico and called it Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV of France. 1718 New Orleans is settled
• France used tenant farmers- farmers that agreed to work a certain number of days a year for the lord of the land
• Unlike the English, the French had a good relationship with the Natives.
• They did not try to change their religion or customs nor did they push them of their land
Spain
• Already controlled most of Mexico while rest of Europe was settling East Coast of America.
• 1609/1610 Spain settles New Mexico and Santa Fe is established
• Most exploring and settling was done by missionaries looking for converts
• By 1769 Spain has a string of missions along the west coast



Mr. Clark

8th grade......Friday

Rough class today in Core 3.....a lot of off topic chatter. We will try again on Monday. Please make sure that you have 4-2 and now 4-3 which is posted, copied into your notebook. Also do not forget about your well thought out paragraph about which colonies settlement you would live in and why. 5-8 sentences minimum please. 4-3 is on Southern Colonies. Georgia, Virginia, Carolina, and Maryland. These colonies were established for very different reasons than New England and the Middle Colonies.

Also do not forget about our poll question....who ran the best settlement? We will talk about the results on Monday.

Be thinking about the motivations of each of the regions of colonies. That is the next major class discussion we will have. This will probably occur on Tuesday.

Have a good and safe weekend, get your P.119 #3-7 done so it can be turned in on Monday.

Mr. Clark

8th Grade Chapter 4 Section 2 Notes

Here are the notes for Chapter 4 Section 2. You will need to cut and paste the link into your browser. It is translated through Scribd. I opened it on 3 different computer s and did not need to do anything special to view them. Simply cut and paste the link into the browser.


http://www.scribd.com/doc/19847023/4-2-Notes
This is the link

Of the settlements we have talked about in the Middle and New England Colonies, which would you choose to live in and why. This needs to be a well thoughout out paragraph!!! It is due by Monday Spetermber 21st

See you tomorrow

Mr. Clark

8th Grade Chapter 4 Section 2 Notes

[scribd id=19846502 key=key-35lrr43y0vo2bzf2ex6]

online review site for 7th grade chapter 5 test

Here is the link to the online study session. Cut and paste the link into the browser and then use your name and the password is africa09.

Remember the study session is from 6 until 9 tonight. You do not need to stay the whole time, you can pop in and out or you are welcome to stay the entire time.....either way is up to you and how much review help you need.....see you tonight!!

Parents you are invited as well

http://www.chatzy.com/323225125364

Mr. Clark

8th Grade Wednesday

Today we talked briefly about 4-1 and watched a united streaming video about the New England Colonies. Tomorrow we will start with the Triangular Trade Routes and introduce the section on the Middle Colonies.

This will be the test I hold back and put in the portfolio for student led parent conferences. Do not fall behind there is ALOT of material for this chapter and it will set the stage for the majority of the rest of the class. Spend time working with the notes and the book. The quarter is winding down and some of you could use the boost in your grade.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade Wednesday

In the 7th Grade we will be taking our Chapter 5 test on Friday.

This is the test that will be included in the students portfolio as part of the student led conferences at the end of the quarter.

Parents you should be seeing book, notebook and at least 30-45 minutes a night tonight and tomorrow night on getting ready for the test. Cramming doesn't work does it students? Lets work on our scores as the quarter is winding down. I am working on securing a site for us to SAFELY get on and chat about the material. I a working with Mr. Yeoman and Ms. Woo to make sure that can continue. I will update the progress later.

That is all for now.......study hard but smart!

Mr. Clark

7th Grade------5-3 notes

Ch5 Sec3

8th grade

We started Chapter 4 today. The notess were posted over the weekend. 8th grade you need to set up and start using the blog or we will have to go back to the old way of note taking . I will not continue to print out the notes and give you a copy.

Tomorrow we will be watching a video clip from united streaming video about the New England Colonies and discussing the material we read about in class and you copied the notes for. Be prepared to discuss the material.

3 weeks until the end of the grading period. Alot of you need to make some drastic improvements in the next 3 weeks. Pick it up!!

Also, Tutoring for 8th grade is Thursdays. If you have a D or an F in my class you are REQUIRED to stay for tutoring on Thursday!

Thanks
Mr. Clark

7th grade

As we talked about in class, I need you to pick a natural resource and follow it through the 3 levels of economic activity.

Ex. (1) Sheep's wool (2) Spun into yarn (3)Made into a sweater

You have until Wednesday to complete this task. Do not pick one that has already been used. If you look over the ones posted and you do the same one I will not post it and you will not get credit for the post.

Also read sections 1 and 2 from chapter 5. I am considering giving comprehension quizzes to ensure that the sections are being read when assigned.

Also, tutoring for 7th Grade is on Friday. If you have a D or and F in my class you are REQUIRED to stay from 3:20-4:00 for tutoring.

Thanks
Mr. Clark

8th Grade Notes

Ch4 Sec1

7th Grade Chapter 5 Section 2 Notes

Ch5 Sec2

8th Grade

Took Chapter 3 Test

Students are supposed to be reading Chapter 4 Section 1

Mr. Clark

Chapter 5 Section 1 notes for 7th Grade

Ch5 Sec1

7 Th Grade Post

Tonight I would like all 7Th graders, as a follow up on our in class discussion we had after watching the Presidents address to students from Tuesday, to post one long term goal and one short term goal you have set for yourself.

Parents, the speech was a good speech, it was inspiring and a call to action, to excel and take responsibility for their grades and their future. We had a good follow up discussion where I asked the students about responsibility, one of our core principles here at ICS and asked the students if they had every heard the things the President told them from another adult in their lives at some point before they heard him say it. I asked if it meant more coming from him or was it a reinforcement, etc.

A healthy and lively discussion took place and i think we all learned something from it.

I am going to try and get the notes posted for Chapter 5 Section 1 as well and we will begin our class work on Natural Resources tomorrow.

Thank you all
Mr. Clark

8th Grade

For some reason there was some confusion about when the test was......Core 3 took the test and it did not look good grade wise. I made a rare exception, threw out the tests, wrote a new one and the 8Th grade will retake Chapter 3 test tomorrow. I will not make these types of exception often if ever again. Because power school wand email was down over the weekend, there may have been a delay in receiving the email I sent out on Friday, making the comment "test Wednesday" confusing if you did not receive that email until Monday.

Long story short, the 8Th grade test is tomorrow. They should have their notes, book and any other material and be studying for this test tonight.

Mr. Clark

7th Grade Test Results

Core 1
High 58
Low 12
Average 29.6 out of 50

A- 4
B- 1
C- 0
D- 2
F- 18

Core 2
High 46
Low 11
Average 24.3 out of 50

A- 1
B- 2
C- 1
D- 1
F- 14

Clearly the students blew this test off and they confirmed that in class today. I was conflicted as to what to do about the low score. I have decided to allow the students to "fix" the ones they got wrong and earn half credit for all the corrected answers. The catch is that they must be signed by a parent. I think a discussion at home about study time and amount of time spent on school work at home might be appropriate. I was very disappointed in the effort especially since every short answer question on the test was taken directly from the study guide. The problem there is that only about 1/3 of the students completed the study guide.

Thanks for your help at home regarding this issue. I will not always allow "fixing" tests but this time I am.
Mr. Clark

7th Grade

Test results...............

I am going to hold the test results and we are going to discuss what went wrong on this test. The scores are almost impossible to believe. I want to get to the bottom of the disaster that is the Chapter 4 test. That being said, I will not be posting the notes for Chapter 5 Section 1. We will move on after we learn the information from Chapter 4 first.

Mr. Clark

Youi have to enter the new site into your browser and then when the window opens, click chat....it is working. I am on it now

Mr. CLark

7th grade study session

Here is the new window for the study session

http://www.centraldesktop.com/joinlive?id=68044021

I have the window up running and waiting for your questions
Mr. CLark

I am working on the study session.......give me a few moments

Here is a picture of mama cat and the 5 kittens we raised over the summer. We kept the dark striped one and Senorita May took the solid dark grey one.

Welcome to Our Blog

We will be using this blog to keep in touch on a daily basis. If you are absent, either physically or mentally, you can come on here and get caught up. I will be posting cool stuff on here like video clips, class notes, outlines, guided notes and study guides. We will also be having live online study sessions where you can ask question, get clarification, depth of knowledge assistance and general help before a test.

This will only be as sucessful as you make it. Please be sure to log in periodically and keep up to date on the happenings in Social Studies and our class in general.